NATIVE PLANTS A critical part of natural ecosystems. Prevents erosion Provides food, cover, and nesting sites for wildlife Protects water quality by filtering sediment

FERNS

Bracken Fern Most common American fern Found in woods and fields Usually 1 to 4 feet tall Fs.fed.us

Licorice Fern Leather – like fronds Fronds are divided into simple, smooth leaflets Grows on tree trunks johnrakestraw.files.wordpress.com

SEDGES Grass-like herb with triangular solid stems Grows 1 – 3 feet tall Found in standing water or wet soil Flowers are dense clusters without petals. Over 100 species in Puget Sound Fertilizer-plus.com

Reed Canary Grass Perennial grass 2.5 to 5 feet in height Likes wet soil Leaf blades are flat and rough to touch They are red when in full bloom– an invasive plant pnwpest.org

SHRUBS AND HERBS

Salmon Berry Found along streams, in marshy flats, and in moist woods Produce salmon-colored edible berries in June and July Red purple floweres in april to may Nwplants.com

Red Huckleberry Produces tart, edible, red berries in July Often found in forested areas in old stumps Has small, oval, bright green, widely spaced leaves Bell-shaped flowers, yellowish white and blooms in May Web.me.com

Pacific Blackberry This native blackberry grows is a ‘creeper’ Don’t pull this blackberry out!

Himalayan Blackberry This is an invasive plant-- we want these gone! Be careful of their thorns These bushes “strangle” the good plants. They grow fast and take precious space in the woodland

Evergreen Blueberry

Red- Osier Dogwood Grows in moist soil Long, lance-shaped, smooth-edged leaves Flowers are flat topped clusters of small, white flowers and turn into small pale blue or white berries (not edible) farm3.static.flickr.com

Buttercup Thrives in moist areas, especially wet meadows Leaves are soft and hairy with 3 toothed leaflets. Glossy yellow petals Chronicleforums.com

Salal Evergreen shrub grows in woods on the margins of wetlands, never in wet soil. Often found on nurse logs Leaves are dark green, glossy, leathery, and oval. White to pinkish flowers hang in clusters. Berries are dark purple, blueberry shaped and edible Paghat.com

Oregon Grape Tall bush with glossy, green, holly-like leaves Yellow flowers in dense clusters. Has edible blue black berries Westernwildflower.com

SKUNK CABBAGE Grows in standing water or soggy soil Don’t eat this cabbage– the leaves are poisonous! grow bright yellow flowers that have a skunky odor www.fs.fed.us

TRILLIUM Grows in shady woods Blooms early spring. 3 leaves grown on single stem. Single flower has 3 white or maroon petals Ubcbotanicalgarden.org

BROAD-LEAVED STARFLOWER Perennial and grows 4 – 12 inches tall Grows in open forest and meadows Egg shaped to elliptic leaves. Star like flowers are pink to rose Ontariowildflower.com

TREES

Alder Found in moist woods and along streams 50 – 80 feet tall Thin smooth, whitish gray bark. Oval leaves with pointed tips and toothed edges. Grows clusters of small round woody cones– look for them on the ground www.Tarleton.edu.com

Hemlock Evergreen conifer Grows in moist areas and tolerates deep shade Can grow to 225 feet Drooping branches. Dark brown to reddish brown grooved bark. Flat needles and oval cones Encarta.msn.com

Douglas Fir Grows in all but the wettest and driest soil May grow to 300 feet Grows quickly; tall, straight trunk; cones of leathery brown scales and stay on tree year round www.Davidlnelson.com

Western Red Cedar Most common cedar in the Northwest Can grow to 200 feet Grows in moist soil to dry upland soil Massive trunk with stringy vertical, reddish bark. Branches tend to spread, droop slightly and turn up at the ends. Bright green cedar needles are flat cones are clustered near the ends of branches Tryonfarms.com

STINGING NETTLE Look for heart shaped, hairy leaves The leaves contain formic acid, which causes skin irritation Use inside of stem from a bracken fern, slug slime, or crushed elderberry leaves to relieve irritation

DON’T TOUCH! upload.wikimedia.org

TAKE CARE OF OUR WETLANDS